Pep Guardiola seems to have lost his way since Mikel Arteta left his side at Manchester City for Arsenal.
Guardiola has not picked the same starting XI in consecutive matches and has chopped and changed formations since the departure of his assistant manager on December 18.
And it came to a head last Sunday when City lost 2-0 to Spurs, having also suffered defeat to Manchester United in the League Cup second leg semifinal in the week, despite progressing to the final.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/ManCity?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ManCity #TOTMCI pic.twitter.com/Zbr8aG9onB
— Manchester City (@ManCity)
The City boss has made 76 changes to his team in the Premier League this season.
That is more than any other manager, with Frank Lampard at Chelsea second with 60.
League leader Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has made just 46 changes and Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers 44. And Chris Wilder at Sheffield United has made the fewest changes with 30.
GONER: New Arsenal boss Arteta. Picture: JASON CAIRNDUFF/REUTERS
With the Champions League last-16 clash against Real Madrid coming early next month, the players are worried that inconsistency in selection could hamper their chances as City have never progressed beyond the quarterfinals under Guardiola.
The players have already lost some confidence in front of goal, after scoring just once in their last two games for 32 goal attempts.
Having been the first club in the Europe’s top-five leagues to score 100 goals this term, midfielder Rodri says: “It’s so frustrating.
CONCERN: Manchester City’s Rodri. Picture: REUTERS
“We create chances, we don’t concede anything, we have 18 shots, we miss one penalty, we hit the post, the crossbar, etc.
“I wonder if football is being fair with us now.”